Pattern testing (as a tester, potential designer)

Hello! So are you a pattern tester like me? Do you love the chance to create something new? Learn a new stitch (or stitches)? Support a designer finalize their pattern before they go live into the world? Join an amazing community of creatives who do and want the same thing? Ding, ding, ding! Then you are in the right place!

I test patterns for designers to check all the boxes above, but I do it because I truly love learning new stuff in this craft. Honest truth. Knitting and crocheting are so damn interesting to me. I know, I’m weird. But once you start, and you like it, you get a taste of it and really cannot stop. You know what I mean?!? I test on the side and I‘m a self proclaimed “stitchaholic“ (“hello, I’m yejee and I’m a bona fide stitchaholic”) - meaning I knit and crochet equally. Actually I switch from one to the other pretty regularly to help ease the wrist and hand pain. Serious. It can get painful in the busy months (aka colder months).

Anyway focus. Ok so I test patterns before designers go live with their awesome creations and I do this because oftentimes there are errors in stitches or sizing and I, along with a group of testers, find these mistakes so the pattern is full proof when it goes to the general public. Many designers have their stuff on point! Their creations are beautiful, easy to make and instructions are simple to follow, while others can be a little more difficult I’ll say. I friggen love it to the core! It can get stressful sometimes because you’re working on a deadline having to finish the project and send notes and pics by a specific date. Oftentimes I’m working on several tests at the same time. And totally to no one’s fault, I live in one of the latest time zones so by the time I work on the project at night after all the kids are in bed, the designer and the group of testers are all sound asleep! Some designers don’t sleep though. They don’t eat or go to the restroom. Really. They’re robots. If you know, then you know! They are always live when I sometimes ask the silliest questions. And I’ve asked some really ridiculous questions lol. (Making fun of me for examples will be set for another blog post haha!).

The other major reason why I do this and continue to do so is because I’ve met some incredible makers. They’re supportive, smart, multitasking, straight up awesome people. Needless to say I’ve made some memorable true friends. It‘s a community filled with brilliant creative minds. No joke!

So one day I hope to publish an original design of mine. I have tons of ideas in my mind, and have made them but for now please enjoy a collage of my recent makes in the past two months. Just my two cents here, but yeah I love pattern testing. From left to right, top row and bottom:

1. lilac lane cardigan by @craftseverywhere (pattern in testing)

2. Isidora crop top by @daphneetpluton (pattern in testing)

3. Myosotis plant holder by @daphneetpluton

4. Kent coaster by @hearthandwool

5. Burning Embers sweater by @Knits’n’knotswpg (pattern for upcoming book)

6. Delft cowl by @dutchgirlcreations

7. Knit Popcorn Bonnet by @loopsandthings.me

8. Snidget hat by @wanded727